SMHL on the 4th October, 2017 commissioned four marine fleets as part of it preparedness to ramp up production. The Chief Finance Officer Abdul Bangura said the cost of the fleets which includes transportation, insurance and clearing formalities is $4,000,000 (Four Million United States Dollars. Mr. Bangura told the audience that the funds to procure these fleets were not loans secured from any bank but internally generated revenue from SMHL- Vimetco mining activities in Sierra Leone. He said the procurement of these marine vessels is to increase their revenue and support the port operations of the company. Mr. Bangura said the fleets consist of two push-boats and two barges
The Acting General Manager of SMHL, Mr. Basudeb Datta said the company operations looks better compared to some years back. Hence, we do not lose sight of where we came from and where we are going as a company. He said the purchase of these river fleets will ramp up production to 2.2 million tons. He said for this reason, they had to procure these fleets to help them meet their production target. Mr. Datta explained the purchase of this vessels will not only increase SMHL revenue but will also increase revenues paid to government in the form of taxes and will create employment opportunities for the country.
The Paramount Chief of Upper Banta Chief PC Jombla thanked SMHL management for the investment. He said as owners of the land, they will support the operations of the company and see that Vimetco Sierra Leone grows. He admired SMHL relationship with the community which he said is enviable and worth emulating by other mining operators in the country.
New River Fleets
Acting General Manager Mr. Basudeb Datta
Paramount Chief Jombla Pouring Libation
Pushboat
